"This is music education as it ought to be. Skip's presentations seamlessly combine musical demonstrations with incisive commentary on the social and historical significance of the old time music of the West." Theodore Levin, Professor of Ethnomusicology, Dartmouth College "Our 5th grade teacher felt that Skip really brought the history of the Westward Movement to life." Donna Knightly, Elementary Librarian, Mt. Vernon, Maine

While touching on the explorations of Lewis and Clark (1804-06), Skip Gorman's programs focus primarily on the period of Westward expansion (1840- 1900) . Students learn about the lives of early pioneers; women as emigrant wives and cowgirls; black cowboys; Mexican vaqueros and their rich lingo; Native Americans; gold seekers; cattle drives and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. With cross-tuned fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, limberjack (dancing wooden figure) and cow bones, Skip, a former high school history and Spanish teacher, excites students to engage in additional classroom activities such as reports on Sacajawea, Frederic Remington, or creating new lyrics to songs, using Spanish language and Language Arts projects. Focus is on the care of animals, the courage of settlers on the unforgiving wilderness and the excitement of geographic discovery using the true music of the period.

Skip's new CD, "ROLL ON PRAIRIE WAGONS, LET'ER BUCK YOUNG PARDS", contains a 28-page study guide which is sent ahead gratis with all bookings.

Fees: $650 for one program, $850 for two on the same day.
Reduced fees for block bookings.

Touring dates: September 2007.- June 2008
Contact Person: Nancy Jones
Title: agent for school programs
Company Name: Skip Gorman School Bookings
Address: 125 Western Rd., Warren, ME 04864
Phone: (207) 273-3614
Web Address: www.skipgorman.com
Fax: (603)-523-7661
Email: nancyjones@skipgorman.com